Happy New Year!

Billy Crystal - Meg Ryan / When Harry Met Sally

 "I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes.  And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.  And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve."

"I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

Here's to new beginnings with happy endings.

Happy New Year!

Order in Chaos

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Coming Soon

Mesquite 

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - Size:  Big /  Sold

 

Time to order more art supplies for Leslie Saeta's 30-30 Challenge.

The fun begins January 1, 2015.  Hope to see you then!

December 7, 1941

That Cold North Wind

That Cold North Wind

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper / 16 X 12

 That chilly wind has been whipping around our town quite a bit lately.

  It has reminded me that I shamelessly procrastinated in getting our Christmas preparations finished on time last year.    That, in turn, deprived my family of their normally tranquil (no, not really) home environment for the holidays.  I will try to spare them the seasonal drama this year.

Hope to see you back around Christmas.

Prince Charming

Oil- 6X6 - Sold

Since the last few weeks have been a little frenzied around here, this painting is an oldie from last Christmas. 

We've all had to kiss a few...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Persimmons

Oil - 6 X 6 - Sold

The Dancer

The Dancer

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 12 X 16

"To dance is to be out of yourself:  larger, more beautiful, more powerful..."

Agnes De Mille

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/christine-lally/the-dancer/292458 - Sold

The Doors of Perception

The Doors of Perception

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 12X16

"There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception."

Aldous Huxley

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/christine-lally/the-door-of-perception/286679 / SOLD

Wine Tasting

Spent the morning cleaning up the studio a bit; then off to wine country near Newburg, Oregon and a trek over to the coastal mountain range.  

We resisted the urge to go wine tasting and instead went exploring through remote country roads.   Now I know what they mean when they talk about going "off the grid."  I'm thinking that might not be for me.

Cluny La Sorbonne

Paris Metro

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 12X16

Shopping, Paris - sounds like fun!

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/christine-lally/paris-metro/275798

Portland Open Studios

It's that time of the year again here in Portland when you're able to visit the studios of artists whose work you really admire.  Tim and I have only been able to enjoy the last day of the four day studio tours, but we saved the best of the best for today.

If I had to name a favorite artist, it would be Oregon artist Randall David Tipton.  I know I have stalked Randall's blog for at least four years because it was four years ago, on a family vacation, when I walked into the White Bird Gallery in Cannon Beach and stopped dead in my tracks at the sight of one of his paintings.  And this was a few months after I had discovered him on dailypainters.

Size 40X60 - Oil      One of Randall's amazing paintings!

For me, meeting Randall was more exciting than meeting Brad Pitt (although, in fairness,  I have yet to meet Brad Pitt).    I imagined Randall to be warm and friendly and he did not disappoint.  Needless to say, his artwork left me speechless.

From there, we went to the studio of Beth Yazhari.  She is a wildly talented, very creative fiber artist  who makes pieces with the intention of honoring the handiwork of past generations of ordinary women.   Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of her studio, but I invite you to look at her beautiful work on her website (click on her name).

Next, we visited the studio of Sara Swink.

 

 Sara is a ceramic artist whose work is just so unique.  Recently, she was interviewed on a local TV show, Oregon Art Beat.  If you have about seven minutes, be sure to watch the link to this wonderful video featuring Sara and her art.

Finally, we stopped by the studio of Theresa Andreas-O'Leary. 

I took a few photos in her studio, but none do her artwork justice.  Theresa's artwork absolutely glows!  And so does Theresa when she talks about being an artist.  Her passion about art is so contagious I actually got out my sketchbook this evening!  Check out her work by clicking on her name above.

So, there you have it - four great hours with four great artists.  It doesn't get much better than that!

Cruisin'

Cruisin'

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 12X16

There's something romantic about driving along a country road on a crispy autumn afternoon in a vintage car.

It's about the journey, not the destination.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/christine-lally/cruisin/273357

Seeing Red

Seeing Red

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 8X10

Cherries bring back sweet memories of my mom's black cherry jello with whole cherries, mandarin oranges, pineapple and pecans.

Sounds like a plan this evening.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/christine-lally/seeing-red/288050

Fruit Loop

Pears

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 8X10

A great way to spend a lazy day in northeast Oregon is a road trip through the Columbia River Gorge, over to Hood River and then out towards Mt. Hood.   This is where you can experience the "Fruit Loop;"  a scenic drive through orchards, organic farms, wineries, restaurants and country shops. 

Be sure to bring your camera and your appetite.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/christine-lally/pears/272596

Keeping Things in Perspective

The Red Umbrella

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 8 X10

Unfortunately,  the perspective is off a bit (a lot).   Dang!

Think I'll put this aside for a rainy day.

Now This is Grafitti

 

We received these photos in an e-mail from my sister-in-law today.  Unfortunately, I don't know where the artwork is located.  It's just so creative!


I've been getting used to some new rice paper and can finally manage to work with it without putting holes in it.

Hope to have a few new batiks up this week.

Alla Prima Portland

Multnomah Village
Portland, Oregon

It's been a while, but I spent the morning in Multnomah Village getting reacquainted with art friends at a weekly art discussion group called Alla Prima Portland.

What I like about the group is that we sit around and informally chit-chat prior to the meeting.  Once the meeting starts, though, the ONLY thing we are allowed to talk about is the suggested art topic of the day.  Then each member produces a few recent pieces of artwork to show other members - not for critique but to share.

Celeste Bergin, our group's leader, runs a tight ship.   With humor and style, she keeps the discussion focused and smooth.  And then, in addition to maintaining her own blog, Celeste runs the Alla Prima Portland blog.  Without Celeste, this group would not exist.

Alla Prima Portland is comprised of artists of all skill levels - from beginners to world class artists, such as Thomas Kitts, who hold international workshops and who are featured in various plein air magazines.

It's an incredibly friendly, encouraging atmosphere.  I wonder why I waited so long to go back.

If you have a few minutes, kick back and check out the Alla Prima blog.  It's full of great art tips / info and lots of interesting artwork.

30-30 Challenge - Day 30

Einstein

Batik on Rice Paper with Ink - 10X8  - SOLD

"Logic will take you from A to B.  Imagination will take you everywhere."

With the exception of last week when life got a little CRAZY,   I really enjoyed the challenge.  This one pushed me farther than the previous challenges, and has taken me in a new direction.

I tried being mindful when choosing the quotes for the artwork; this one will be pasted in my studio.

30-30 Challenge - Day 29

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper

8X10 - Number 29

Happily, I found some scraps of a different variety of rice paper (Unryu) I used as a beginner.  There's something good to be said about hoarding art supplies!

The final challenge batik is finished.  I must confess, I finished it a couple of weeks ago and held it back to avoid the last day frenzies.

See you tomorrow!

30-30 Challenge - Day 28

In August, I received a new roll of Japanese rice paper from New York Central Art Supply. Unfortunately, I didn't unwrap it until last week. 

 It was then I discovered it was not the paper I had previously received from them; this one continually shredded while I worked on it.  I did a few throwaways, and then decided to stop trying on this paper.  I'm shopping for new stuff.

Since I'm so focused on batiks, I've been doing small watercolor value paintings for future larger batik pieces.   I usually do them for more complicated batiks, but thought these would be great for the last week of the challenge.  

Number 22

 

Number 23

 

Number 24

Number 25

 

 Number 26

 

 Number 27

 Number 28

30-30 Challenge - Day 26

Batik with Mixed Media - Painting No. 21

8X10

"If I could be half the person my dog is, I'd be twice the human I am."

Charles Yu, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

30-30 Challenge - Day 24

Pockets Full of Fun - Painting No. 20

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 8X10

"A person's a person no matter how small."

Dr. Seuss

30-30 Challenge - Day 22

The Storm Before the Calm - Painting No. 19

Batik with Ink & Pencil, 10X8 

"The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear.  It is the storm within which endangers him, not the storm without."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/christine-lally/the-storm-before-the-calm/259267 - SOLD

30-30 Challenge - Day 21

Lion - Painting No. 18

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 8 X10

"Did you think the lion was sleeping because he didn't roar?"

Friedrich Schiller, Die Verschworung des Fiesco zu Genua

30-30 Challenge - Day 18

Baby Elephant
Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 8X10

"I won't eat any cereal that doesn't turn the milk purple."
Bill Watterson

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/christine-lally/baby-elephant/288030

30-30 Challenge - Day 16

Elephant-2 (Painting No. 16)

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper, 8X10

"When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away, it's best to  let him run."   Abraham Lincoln

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/christine-lally/elephant-2/257959

Elephant (Painting No. 15)
Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 8X10

"The only good cage is an empty cage."  Lawrence Anthony, The Elephant Whisperer

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/christine-lally/elephant/257905 - SOLD

30-30 Challenge - Day 15

We're halfway through the challenge.  There have been a couple of days where I didn't want to post the "stinkers,"  but that was the deal.

Looking back on the last two weeks, it's obvious I'm all over the place with subject matter, so I'll narrow it down for the next handful of days. 

 Going through old reference photos, I came across some favorite animals.  Most of them have already been immortalized in paint (some more than once), but I just can't help myself.  They will become brand new again.  They are just that beautiful to me...

I'm off to batik - will post a new one later today.

Well, it is later and I crashed and burned!   These are beyond stinkers.

Will play catch-up tomorrow.

30-30 Challenge - Day 14

Slow Boat

Watercolor Batik on Rice Paper - 8X10

"There's dreams that I've had, I wrote in songs yesterday

But the waves of the world have washed them away

Still I carry them with me wherever I go

They're my only possessions on this slow boat back home."

Arlo Guthrie